012 CPSA – Brexit, Trump and the Rise of Radical Right Populism in the West: Is Democracy Threatened?

The CSDC was present at the Canadian Political Science Association conference this year in Toronto. On this occasion, we recorded this plenary session.

This plenary brings together experts on populism, comparative democracy and democratic theory to look at the recent rise of populism in Europe and North America and examine some of the historical parallels as well as the consequences. Why do we see the rise of populism right now? Is this a completely new phenomenon or are their similarities to earlier occurrences? Given the current criticisms of the media, the established political parties, and the courts, are the fundamentals of democracy under threat? Can our democratic institutions stand up to the pressing challenges of our time?